Everyday Public Relations

Why all of us who are employed should give thanks...

noreply@blogger.com (Kristina Summers) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 20:01:00 +0000

This post is primarily for those waiting to graduate or have graduated recently. For those who are already established, it may still bode well to check it out.

After reading this post at Scatterbox by Steven Silvers I was sufficiently depressed and thankful at the same time. (I love his blog, he always tells it like it is.)

With all that has gone on in the world and in our economy over the last year, we can no longer deny that the communications world is changing, especially for those in PR and marketing.

Take Silvers' advice and find a niche, become an expert. This is no time to be a generalist. Hopefully there is something you love that you can grab onto tightly and become THE "go-to" person for that subject.

Do as much reading as you can about professional development and marketing yourself. The point is to become indispensable.

I know it is the holidays and everyone is supposed to be happy, but the sad truth is that come New Years many of us could be staring down the long bleak road of unemployment.

The economy will recover, but there is no way to know how long that process will take. So do yourself a favor and heed this advice: Hope for the best, but ALWAYS prepare for the worst.

Happy Holidays.

New Year's Resolutions

noreply@blogger.com (Kristina Summers) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:34:00 +0000

It's that time of year again. The time when people everywhere take a moment, however brief, to reflect upon the year that is ending in order to make the year that is approaching an even better one.

What worked, what didn't, are you happier, healthier, more prosperous and if not, why?

These questions are weighing heavy on my mind today. Perhaps it is because I attended a funeral today. One for a woman I didn't know well, but who died way too early. A woman who was loved enormously by her husband, family, and everyone it seems who ever had the opportunity to do business with her. It really put a few things into perspective.

I am now closing in on my 2nd year of blogging. There have been many ups and downs and through it all I have found solace and joy in my writing. One of the primary reasons for this is that I have taken the time at certain key points along my journey to reflect, and to write down the things I hope to achieve in the next 12 months. I have decided to share my list with you.

It is important to note that I am not tied down to a list, but rather look at it as an encouraging and helpful friend, that exists only to help me along my way.

Enjoy, and happy new years to you all!

1. renew my passport and actually get around to that trip to the all-inclusive with the hubby.
2. Brand my blog and increase my marketing efforts to bring in more readers.
3. spend more time with the kids, and be at every game and scouting event.
4. Focus more on being healthy and less on my pants size.
5. write more free-lance articles that remain true to my passions.
6. put all my pictures in scrapbooks and update both the baby books and the school books for the kids (I am soooo behind!!!)
7. continue working on my French and Spanish, maybe try Italian?
8. Finish Grad school, (with my dignity intact).
9. spend more time outdoors, appreciating nature's true miracles.
10. focus more on natural experiences rather than the synthetic highs that our Loco's, non-stop, work-a-holic, tivo'd, blackberry and i-phone lives can provide.

Feel free to add your own suggestions....

Routines are NOT innovative!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristina Summers) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:01:00 +0000

Why do teachers insist on ice breaker activities in college? What if you really hate them, do you lose points if you don't want to participate? Will the anti-social fairy whomp me on the head? I mean we aren't in kindergarten, it's grad school!

To be honest, I don't really care who my classmates are. I just want to get done and get on with my life. I am not here to make all kinds of new and fun friends, I am trying to upgrade my education and my career - neither has much to do with how many people in the class have 6 things in common with me.

Newsflash....we are not all social butterflies. It seems a kind of cruel and unusual punishment that each semester we are forced to make nice and politely inquire about things we really care nothing about.

I am not the only one who feels this way either. The very FIRST person I spoke too (conveniently located to my right so I wouldn't have to move out of my seat) admitted right off the bat, meaning the first words out of their mouth, that they hated these activities and felt socially awkward. So why put us through an exercise that it so utterly unnecessary?

NOTE* the only people who actually enjoyed this activity were the ones aggressively trawling the room looking for six people to add to their list so that they could smugly parrot the
aforementioned lists back to the teacher in hopes of getting a few early brownie (innovation??) points. (In particular there was one annoying "nat" that flew around and around like a busy little bee while avoiding eye contact of course, but I digress...)

I do not find it appealing or necessary to kiss any ones ass, especially not someone who considers the same tired old mixer "games" to be innovative.

Maybe I just never learned how to play nice with others.

Faith restored...

noreply@blogger.com (Kristina Summers) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 01:41:00 +0000

OK, so after my rant a few days ago I felt it was necessary to go ahead and admit I may have posted a bit prematurely. I had had a horrible day, at least up to that point, but the rest of the day totally made up for it.

So as NPR is famous for saying....

"And now the rest of the story..." (written 1/12/09)

I met a professor today who reminded me why I wanted to go to college in the first place. I readily admit to having become slightly disenfranchised since starting grad school, so I was really glad to finally have a class I was happy to go back too.

I have always been fascinated by people. Not to be confused with that ridiculous statement you often hear on college campuses and in interviews everywhere (usually from confused and misinformed social sciences undergrads): “I want to [insert career path here] because I like people!”

Absurd.

I can honestly say that I do not like most people, being decidedly introverted and somewhat anti-social by nature. I do however love “people”, in all their eccentricities.

Perhaps I should clarify that last statement by stating that I enjoy people the way some people enjoy a good mystery novel. I like to study behavior. I want to know why people think the way they do.

As a child, much to my parents and teachers chagrin, it was never enough for me that some rule, ritual or rite was proper or “right” because of a collection of dusty rules made eons before my time. I wanted to know why it was right, what made it right, what made people think these rules were right without question.

I can’t stand anyone who tells me that things are done in a particular manner because it is the way it is always done. Maybe the old way IS the best way but give me a good argument. As my ethics teacher says, disagree thoughtfully, with a well-reasoned approach, or else keep your opinions to yourself (because if you can’t back up your logic, then an opinion is all it is anyways.)

So I have decided that that I really like my ethics teacher, not just because he has a soft spoken voice that oozes real world intelligence, but also because he is so up front...no hidden agenda. He encourages his students to argue with him and present different views in addition to allowing for the most "taboo: topics to be readily discussed.

I love the study of ethics, in particular how it relates to human nature, so be forewarned you will more than likely be seeing more posts as I move through this crazy semester. ( I like him, but I never said the class would be easy...).

Come back soon for regular updates as I navigate this crazy world of PR in everyday life.

A new Direction for a New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Kristina Summers) — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 02:46:00 +0000

After reading about a fellow brazen blogger taking the leap to a new blog I feel compelled to start making a transition of my own....

Come on over and check it out....

My regular readers will know this has been a long time coming and I only hope that they will follow me on over. I will continue to maintain this blog for the time being, but more effort will be going into the new site.

Hope to see you there.

Facebook for a good cause

noreply@blogger.com (Kristina Summers) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:52:00 +0000

It seems that Facebook is all over the blogs and on everyones mind lately. In Maine it is solving crimes and in Georgia there was a story in today's paper about the whole content/privacy issue.

Not too long ago many people were weighing in on the whole 25 things floating around, even to the point of creating groups to protest. Personally I kind of got into that list thing, but then I only got tagged a couple times. I guess it is because I am a total nerd for the random info in my head (my friends count on me for trivia all the time). This article was a little more positive but still concerned with the amount of info online.

So with all this negativity, I though I would share something positive about this social media tool that may be getting missed in all the privacy/leave me out of the 25 things hoop-la.

So I got a strange request from my boss not too long ago. I was asked to cruise Facebook of all things...on the clock. Turns out as many of us already know, there is this application called "causes" that basically allows you to either show your support for a particular cause, or to create your own. Not only can you recruit "friends" you can also raise money for your particular cause.

The GA state parks friends group as a page, so when my boss wanted me to look into it for our own 501(c)3 friends group I was all for it. After all we are stretched pretty thin....budget wise anyways, as everyone who works for the state is aware of.

If you have a non-profit, what better way to reach out to people than through an online tool that reaches approximately 8 million people all over the world, second in the number of users only to Myspace. Started in 2004 by Harvard grad Mark Zuckerberg, the company offers the ad-supported site to anyone to use free of charge.

So if you are an organization that relies on donations, word of mouth marketing and viral buzz in order to survive, I can't see a much better way than to take advantage of this awesome tool. Some are worried about credibility and not looking respectable but with our economy in the toilet and non-profits shutting their doors everyday, why not get creative and start looking to what's out there. Maybe I am just realizing that the old adage is true. If you can't beat 'em...join 'em.

See you online.

Addicted to Social Media?

noreply@blogger.com (Kristina Summers) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:10:00 +0000

As a disclaimer…the following is not intended as a true diagnosis or a cure…please check with your local social media expert to determine if you are in fact an addict.

So how do you know if you enjoy an online existence or if you are in fact addicted to social media? Maybe these questions will help you decide:

1. Do you check your facebook more than 3 times a day?

2. Do you have a facebook, twitter, myspace, mybloglog, and a blog site…concurrently?

3. Do you have more than 2 blogs?

4.Do you subscribe to more than 3 blogs ?

5. Do you find yourself talking about the latest updates on Facebook more than you talk about school, work, or even family?

If you answered yes to more than one of these questions then you may in fact have an addiction. I cast no judgement as I am one of those sheepishly answering yes to all 5 of the questions listed above.

So how do you cut the cord?

A respected friend once told me that in order to truly be free, you must view your “addiction” as you would any other - that means taking it one day at a time.

First step - admit you have a problem….and don’t post it on Facebook!

Second step - reach out for support - tell your friends that you are attempting to cut back on your computer (or other internet device) usage - NOTE: you must do this in person….no twitter, facebook or even e-mails allowed!!!!

Third step - go for 24 hours without updating your status….if you backslide, simply start over. If you are determined you can do this. Try to distract yourself with that scary thing called “the real world”….go outside, smell the flowers, feel the breeze, listen to the birds….

The main thing to remember is this - the internet and the world of social media is a wonderful thing, if like anything else, it is enjoyed in moderation.

Now I must go…..it has been a whole 23 minutes since I checked my e-mail…..and I think I am in withdrawal.

Right Whale Press

noreply@blogger.com (Kristina Summers) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:40:00 +0000

North Atlantic right whales, one of the most endangerd species of whales on Earth, get some much needed press. Special Thanks to Mary Landers from the Savannah Morning News and Clay George, wildlife biologist with the GA DNR.

Social Media Experiment a Success

noreply@blogger.com (Kristina Summers) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:27:00 +0000

The power of what having a social media network can do for an organization has never been more clear than the following example.

A conservation organization, "Replanting the Rainforests" embarked on an experiment using only social media outlets. They contacted bloggers, Facebook users and people on Twitter and asked them to blog, post and tweet about their content for one month. Nothing extra really, just a mention of their mission while doing what they always do. The results are staggering.

"In our first 30 days there have been more than 12,000 visitors to the Replanting the Rainforests (stats) web site - and there have been more than 78,000 page views. Amazingly, 35,000 of those page views have come in the last 7 days.

Eco Preservation Society’s @EcoInteractive Twitter account has exploded. 22,000 followers have been added in less than 60 days, with an unbelievable 12,000 new followers in just the last 8 days, averaging 1500 new followers a day over that period.

In just 2 weeks, the Earth Day Birthday - Give a Gift to Our Planet FaceBook group has added 3,450 members."

Remarkably all this was done with absolutely zero marketing budget, built entirely on human capital and using only social media.

Something to consider huh?

If, like me you work for an organization with precious little cash flow, all of the sudden this whole social media thing really begins to look attractive.

The Power of Positive Thinking

noreply@blogger.com (Kristina Summers) — Fri, 01 May 2009 14:27:00 +0000

Harness your creativity through positive thought

If you work in any kind of PR related field then you know how important creativity and innovation are to the process. During my grad school studies I came across an innovations class that required us to take part in creativity exercises each week. Some were a little out there but one in particular struck a chord with me. It was called The Power of Positive Thinking and the premise behind it is that creativity flows better when you are in a positive frame of mind.

Here is how it is done:

First of all you need a problem, something you are actively working to solve be it at work or in your life.

Step 1 - Take one minute to brainstorm solutions.

Step 2 - take a look at your list and then set it aside.

Step 3 - Now take one minute and write down as many things as you can think of that you like. You can write down things you like to eat, watch, wear, do, anything that makes you happy. Pretty simple criteria. Also, it is important that you don't spend a lot of time thinking, these things should be the first things that pop into your mind.

My "happy" list

Step 4 - How many items did you come up with? As you read over your list are you smiling thinking about the things that make you happy? Good. This part of the exercise really goes over well if done with a group and you can share your lists. It can really be an ice-breaker at a meeting and gets people in a positive mind frame.

Step 5 - Now re-do your brainstorming exercise.

Step 6 - How did you do? Is your list longer, more creative? If the exercise worked then you should see a difference. The power of positive thinking. Creativity will flow when you allow your brain to relax and being positive helps you do that. I'm not a scientist but I know this works for me so maybe it will work for you too.

Want more neat creativity exercises? Check out this site to learn more.

A Blogger Grows Up

noreply@blogger.com (Kristina Summers) — Fri, 15 May 2009 08:02:00 +0000

When I first started blogging it was for a school assignment. I admit I didn't put much stock into the whole social media trend as a whole and at times thought my blog was more of a chore than anything. I was coming into college as an older student and personally thought many of my counterparts (who were much younger obviously), were out of their minds. I mean really, what the heck was Twitter and Facebook anyway to a single mom quickly approaching 30?)

Luckily I had a great teacher (actually a couple of them) who really knew their stuff and managed to convince me that I would indeed be able to use social media and PR in my efforts to help save the planet. Much to many of my classmates confusion, I wanted to work in conservation (small salary) rather than in some big corporate boutique (big bucks). I think they thought I was a little nutty, which I was, but that is another blog entirely :)

Now over two years later, my one-time assignment has grown to become so much more than just a writing task, pleasant past time, and is certainly not a chore, but an activity I look forward too each week.

However, this change didn't happen overnight and to tell the truth was not an easy or convenient path. First of all there has been much change along the way. Thanks to some great input from fellow bloggers, some great books, and steady support from a few pro's I have met along the way, I think I have a much better idea about what works and what doesn't as far as promoting my blog, although I admit I am always learning.

In the beginning I'm sure I was one of those annoying bloggers with the one word replies, multiple eye-popping (read:eye-sore) applications on my template, and little if any forethought as to design, aesthetics, traffic, etc. I just wanted to write and I wanted to share it and I didn't really care much as to how that was accomplished.

Well after getting a few comments (not all of them supportive), I realized that maybe I should start seeking out the advice of those who I considered successful if I really wanted to make a go as a "real" blogger.

I subscribed to a few really good blogs, read a few books and started keeping a running file of tips that I in turn shared with people (unbelievably) came to me for advice. Eventually this paid off in that I was able to share everything I had learned about blogging and social media with my co-workers which then garnered me enough attention and respect to help me actually re-write my job description. Pretty cool.

Now I actually have four blogs in addition to the one I operate for work, and actually have a tiny bit of revenue coming in, which is nice since I work for the love not the money of my profession. I feel a little bit of freedom being able to write within different niches rather than being boxed in by one topic and I get to experiment with different looks and themes as I continue to grow as a writer and a blogger.

I am by no means a blogging guru, or even a consultant at this point, but in my desire to share the knowledge (which I believe is good karma) here are a few of the more important pointers that I have picked up along my journey. I don't always follow all of my own advice....but am actively working towards it, and I hope that this helps all of those who aim to be a good blogger. Thanks to all my readers for the last couple of years and I hope you stick around for the next couple as things keep changing and getting better at Everyday PR.

1. Own your own domain (if possible) - Problogger points out that this is the first step to go about having a really great blog. I do actually own my domain names and feel this makes all of my writing appear more professional.

2. Back up your content - There are so many blogging horror stories about people losing their content that I don't need to rehash it - simply google it and you will find out for yourself how bad it can be to suddenly have years of hard work GONE....
3. Self-host if you are able (refer to "blogging for dummies" and "problogger") - I don't actually do this one yet, primarily because until recently I didn't realize it was possible (I know I am a little slow sometimes) and also because I didn't feel comfortable enough with my html skills to mess around with it. I am slowly learning though and look forward to the day I can self host.
4. Promote, promote, promote - Want traffic, you gotta let people know. You have to share with others if you want them to share with you. Comment respectfully, responsibly and be relevant and traffic will come to you. DO NOT shamelessly plug your own agenda unless you are adding value to the conversation. It is annoying and you will be blacklisted and eventually ignored. It is OK though to have a link in your e-mail signature line, to comment frequently on blogs you follow and to post links to helpful and relevant posts in forums, chat rooms and on Twitter. You may start small, but that is OK. Quality content will speak for itself, but it doesn't happen overnight (well most of the time).
5. Treat it like a job. It is. - If you truly want to succeed as a blogger then you must prioritize it and treat it as an investment of your time, energy and even part of your hard-earned income (assuming that as most of us you actually work a full time "regular" job in addition to blogging). Schedule time to write, stay consistent and work hard to make your blog something you can stand behind and be proud of. You won't be sorry.

Hope you enjoyed this and please send me your tips. Also please feel free to let me know if I have forgotten anything really important. We are all in this together and I appreciate all the help I can get.

Social Media Changed My Life

noreply@blogger.com (Kristina Summers) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:48:00 +0000

Not to long ago I was asked to write a post about why I am glad I had to study social media. My former professor and blogging mentor currently teaches public relations and social media at the University of Georgia and I can honestly say that without her class I might not be where I am today.

I work in public affairs for state governement. When I was hired I was told that one of the most attractive things about my resume was my involvement with and knowledge of social media tools such as blogs, social networks and video and photo sharing applications. The world of PR and journalism is changing rapidly and it is all many organizations can do just to keep up. My employer wanted to "upgrade" their media relations tactics and felt that I would be a good person to spearhead the initiative.

I have now been employed here for a year and a half and the changes are dramatic. We have gone from just emailed news releases to being on Youtube, Twitter and having an agency blog. I think that the best thing about all of these changes was that I basically got to create my own position, write my job description and then continue to modify it as needed. I have made contacts that would never have been possible without the use of social media and have been able to indulge my passion by creating an initiative that will help conserve wildlife in the state of Georgia in a totally new way.

Yes I am glad I had to learn about social media. My blog has become a job in itself, with a loyal readership and is syndicated on three different web sites. I receive invitations to speak on social media at conventions and have even been interviewed about my contributions to conservation using social media. I have grown as a PR professional, a writer and as a person and all because I decided that Dr. Russell wasn't crazy after all for being so excited about this thing we call social media.

Hopefully you will have an equally valuable experience whether you are in her class or just a fan of her blog. Here are just a few lessons from her class to show how learning about social media and its various tools helped me to get to where I am today.

Blog to be a Better Writer
Starting a blog was a class assignment. While I was hesitant at first, I quickly realized that writing for such a public medium made me more aware of my writing style and really helped me to develop my writing skills as far as being able to market effectively to a select audience. Writing in a conversational style forces you to consider your content in new and different ways. You have to ask yourself, "would I want to read this online?"

Blog to be a Better PR Professional
PR is all about building relationships, building trust. Blogging has helped me to learn about how to do that in an entirely new way. Getting your content in front of more eyeballs is one of the biggest challenges for those in PR. Using the blog-o-sphere requires that you understand how to distribute the content in a way that won't immediately go into the trash/spam folder. Blogging taught me about writing more concisely, creating quality over quantity, getting to the point and how to reach out to new and unconventional audiences.

Understanding the Power of Social Networks
Like many college students I created a Facebook page and a Twitter profile while in school. What I didn't realize at first was the power and leverage that these social media tools can provide. Although I do use my Facebook page for personal use, to connect with friends, share photos, etc. I also use it in a professional sense in that I have developed personal relationships with many of my media contacts and I use my Facebook platform to share things I think they might find newsworthy. For example, when I come across an interesting news article that talks about wildlife conservation or DNR, I share it on my Facebook page. I also post the occasional news release or photo from the field. There have been many times I have gotten a message on FB about these posts from my media contacts. The same goes for Twitter. I tweet about just about anything that I find interesting or relevant to my line of work. As I gain followers I pay attention to where they are coming from, which gives me an idea of where my content is being read.

I hope that you found this useful. Good Luck!

Social Media Mobile

noreply@blogger.com (Kristina Summers) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:18:00 +0000

So recently I have been on the road a lot. Whether I am in the field or at my desk I am totally loving all of the options I have for taking my social media network with me wherever I go.
I know many people, including my hubby thin I am a total social media addict, which I am, but that doesn't change the fact that being in the business I am in requires me to be "connected" pretty much 24/7. So here are a few of the most recent apps and programs I have discovered along my journey to being 100 percent mobile.

1. Facebook Mobile
2. Twitter - Twitterberry (for more twitter tools read this post)
3. Personal Assistant for Blackberry - blackberry app world for this one.
4. Viigo for Blackberry
5. Gmail for blackberry
6. Flickr for blackberry

I am sure there are others, probably a dozen (read gazillion) for iPhone but as I am a die-hard crackberry fan I won't go into those here.

What I love about all of this is that I can respond instantly wherever I am. I gave a great social media presentation yesterday but on the way back to the office got a call that I had a potentially huge media situation that I needed to respond to ASAP. Because I had all my lovely blackberry mobile apps I was able to deal with the AJC, Fox 5 and others not only with my comments but with photos, additional contacts on the scene and a release. All from the road. Awesome.

Got some great suggestions for taking your network with you on the road? I'd love to hear them!

Karma for Bloggers

noreply@blogger.com (Kristina Summers) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:55:00 +0000

Help each other

The Golden Rule Still Applies...

I have always been a big believer in karma, the golden rule, or whatever you choose to call it. Basically I try hard to put forth the same kind of energy that I hope to receive back from the world around me. I know this may sound idealistic, but hey that's how I roll. I recently came across a similar viewpoint expressed very nicely on one of the blogs I follow, The Urban Muse . Her post really made sense to me about how karma relays to the online blogosphere. I read several blogs regularly and I always try to pass on the tips and tricks that they so eloquently put forth. So therefore, in that vein, here are a few recent posts that I have come across that may help you in your quest to become a better blogger, writer and social media participant.

How to Be Generous: A Guide for Social Media Brands -By Paul Wentworth at Masheable.com

This is great stuff for helping your organization or blog to really develop your brand using social media.Here is an excerpt:

"In the Wild West of social media, over-protection would seem to be a natural response when faced with loss of control over the conversation, and indeed of the firm’s intellectual property, and yet this is almost certainly the wrong response.

Those brands that take the counter-intuitive path of celebrating their customers (even when they are infringing IP) and of sharing more of themselves (even if that means giving away more of their IP) will be the ones who will win."

The next one, Understanding Social Media Guidelines for Employees - by Don Sears who writes at Careers, is probably one of the best short set of guidelines I have found for integrating social media into employee policy, which as we all are aware is moving to the forefront of many organization's lists of concerns. He says:

"Protecting business and fighting negative perception are important to every company. The last thing they want or need is for employees to be out their in the social media sphere of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or anywhere else spouting false information, making their work life too transparent or arguing with other employees publicly.

Two companies taking social media seriously are Intel and IBM. Intel is taking it so seriously it apparently has created a department dedicated to the practices of smart social media, says ZDNet's Jason Hiner.

From a human resources perspective, it's a really wise move to have clear guidelines and policies, and for most employees, it's good to know where your company stands on posting information--especially with issues of legality, copyright, company secrets and the like. I could very well see other companies borrowing from Intel's and IBM's social media guidelines."

Well that is all I have for now. Hope you found this useful and if so, please pass it on, as in essence, that is how karma works. What goes around, comes around, the good, the bad and the ugly.

xzjkqr7dev

Who are we on-line?

noreply@blogger.com (Kristina Summers) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:35:00 +0000

I was recently charged with over-hauling our media relations tactics and like a good worker-bee have been dutifully burning the candle at both ends to meet my (mostly self-imposed) deadline.

During this process I realized that I was spending so much time on the computer that at times I felt like I didn't even recognize myself without first checking out my twitter status.

After bemoaning this fact to friends I was told that I had developed an online persona, one a little different from the girl they knew in "real life." Not a bad thing, just something to be aware of I was assured. Hmmm....

During some much-needed introspection I asked myself if this was true and now I think that this may be what we (online and social media users everywhere) all do, that the online world gives us that anonymity to be whoever we want to be, within reason of course.

Now as to whether this is a good thing, well I think that it is both good and bad. I believe the line can best be drawn between having an active life outside your online world and being so engrossed you become a true internet addict.

It is also important to remember that being online, and especially in a very public sense such as being a blogger, comes with inherent responsibilities. When you blog, tweet or otherwise engage an audience you are making an attempt to connect and although you may want them to read your posts or visit your web site, it is equally important that they are not buying into a false image. What have you gained if a person subscribes thinking they are getting one thing only to be disappointed when they receive something else entirely? Most likely only bad word of mouth, or worse, called a SPAMMER!

Today's Take Away: So if you own a dog, write about dogs and love it then do that but don't try to sell yourself as an expert on dogs, unless of course you are one.

So I have gone back through my posts and although I feel fairly confident that I have remained true to my subject matter and to myself, you might see it differently, and if so I want to know.

Question for You: How can an online image be used for smart marketing? Isn't this what celebrities do after all , sell their image? How can we take that branding process and apply it to our social media networks? More on that next week.

Social Media 2. uh-oh

noreply@blogger.com (Kristina Summers) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:01:00 +0000

There is a ton of buzz today over what has been dubbed "The moldy Twitter" case. If you are unfamiliar you can read all the dirty details here.

There is no getting around it, Horizon acted badly. Who actually says "We are a sue first, ask questions later kind of company." ?? Do they actually want customers?

I think one of the best responses I have seen though was on Copyblogger. This reader has it right.

Business should treat Web 2.0 like a game of chess. Each move should take place only after considering numerous consequences that may follow.

It may be your move and you may be able (and feel justified) to take down a pesky pawn, but that pawn has bishops and queens ready to counter you, and fans with bullhorns in the stands ready to boo you.

In this 2.0 game, the winner isn't the one that knocks down his opponent's last piece; the winner is the person that can play the game in such a way that creates a favorable story about them that spreads beyond the confines of the board.

Just think what would have happened if Horizon Realty instead helped Amanda Bonnen qualify for her 1st home mortgage.

Headlines would have read:
"From Mold to Gold. How Horizon Realty Turned a Rent-Moaner into a Home-Owner"

Think about it, wouldn't that have received a better response than to just outright sue the woman over a silly comment. It makes the average consumer wonder about their right to complain on any public forum-type website. What if my GE dishwasher breaks after a week and I complain on Facebook. Will GE sue me? I sure hope not.

This does of course open up the discussion of where the law actually falls when it comes to the social media world. If you Tweet something, is it print? Could the company have asked the tenant to remove the comment, even if it were TRUE? Where does the actual legality fall?

Just curious, however if they start policing Twitter though I will totally give up my idealist view that we still have rights.

What's your thought on this? Yes this company has no real basis for their complaint, but in general, where do you as an individual stand when it comes to posting things on Twitter, Facebook or on Blogs?

When is Enough, ENOUGH?

noreply@blogger.com (Kristina Summers) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:37:00 +0000

The economy is down, times are tough, we are all tightening our belts and trying to cut costs and hearing again and again that things will turn around...eventually...But what about those that can't wait?

I came across a blog not too long ago called The Chief Happiness Officer. Although he is another part of the world, where things are much different (the world makes a little more sense if your Danish I suppose), he often makes a great point about having one life, so why be miserable? There are no do-overs. I admire his thinking.

Right now, there are those that are trapped in jobs where they are not necessarily treated fairly but have no choice but to hold one. Times are tough and walking away from a career affects more than your paycheck, especially if you have a family to consider.

On the other hand, how do you keep on making that commute and completing the mundane tasks assigned as everything you love, the reasons you went to work in the first place are slowly and deliberately stripped away leaving you exposed...and then they kick you once more for good measure and tell you to "play ball."

I wrote once that there are people in the working world that can lift you up, and then there are those that absolutely suck the life force right out of you. For whatever reason the problems with the economy are hitting the former at a disproportionate rate. More and more of the individuals I admire are receiving the pink slip while the leeches that secretly latch on to your ideas and then suck them from you until they become fat off your accomplishments and fall back down to the ground only to be picked up by the next unsuspecting and passionate newbie continue to rise to the top, rewarded with corner offices and Emmy's they didn't earn and don't deserve.

When do you put your foot down and say ENOUGH of this SHIT!

I asked in the beginning about the people that can't wait for things to get better. Are you one of those that is tired of having your ideas stolen by ridiculous high-school-esque game-players while you continue to pound out 60 hour work weeks for the same low salary that can't even feed your family, much less buy school supplies? If so, what do you do?

When times are tough, I have always found a way to muscle through and come out on the other side a stronger person for it. But now as my confidence is chipped away I fear that if I stay where I am I will become a "true company woman", passionless and embittered, draining the next generation of do-gooders that come into the office, living off their energy like some sort of corporate vampire. I don't want to be that person.

I want to hold on to my dreams not those of another.

To Be Continued.....

Working 9-5 (no longer)

noreply@blogger.com (Kristina Summers) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:34:00 +0000

The days of working Monday through Friday, 9-5 are over, whether some of the "old guard" want to admit or not.

I think that one of the hardest things that many of my colleagues (many of them older) have had to deal with is that the new generation of workers flooding out of colleges are not the traditional sort. We don't want to work our 8 hour days and then forget about the office. And this is not because of some masochistic work-a-holic tendency either. We are not lazy; We want to pay our dues, we just do it differently and the opportunities opened up to us via social media allow us to work more on our own terms.

For instance, rather than being bound to a desk or a land line phone, I take my work with me. I put in the hours when I am well rested and more efficient, making my productivity higher. Unfortunately those hours often do not fall between the traditional 8 hour office day.

I also am continually trying to further educate myself, which means that I am still in school and even when I am not, I look around for seminars and workshops that will help me do what I do, better. Well as many of you might know, going to school and working full time often don't mix. You tend to get pushed into late evening classes or disregarded at work. I've even had it implied that my education is interfering with my work simply because my co-workers don't see my happy shining face behind my desk each day promptly at 8am.

To heck with that. I register for my classes, the good ones, during peak times (in a responsible manner of course) getting most on the same day, which means that I do end up out of the office at least one day a week.

Well, no offense, but I do not believe it is necessary any longer to put in 8 straight hours a day, five days a week in order to qualify that you have a career. Sometimes I think I got more respect working as a bartender than I do now in a "respectable" agency environment. It's no wonder so many of us have become entrepreneurs, working on our own time-tables.

I've been told that I tend to march to the beat of my own drummer, and that is fine with me. I come in early on days when I don't have class and stay late as well. When I have class or when I feel like eating breakfast with the kids I come in a little later. If I am feeling especially sluggish in the afternoon I may take off for the afternoon but them get cranked back up around 10pm. I've even been known to take a day off during the week and then come in on a weekend. Sound crazy? Maybe, but the point is I get my work (and then some) done and receive no complaints about the quality (or the quantity).

So my point is this. I work when I work and I refuse to be boxed in by a ridiculously outdated stereotype. I always have my blackberry, so I'm never really out of touch anyways. The kind of work I do could be (in truth) done from just about any location with WiFi so I am thinking that maybe they should be glad I am not sitting in a beach side bar and grill sipping a cold beer and phoning it in.

Our generation gets that ideas and inspiration come at all times of day and night and that if you wait until that clock reads 9am - you could lose that spark. Don't become obsessed with work, but work around your schedule and your life, rather than the machine. Studies show that happy workers are more productive anyhow so maybe the old guard should take a lesson from us and take off to go fishing around 3pm some beautiful Tuesday afternoon. It could totally change their perspective.

Everyday Public Relations is Going Green!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristina Summers) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:05:00 +0000

WARNING: The following post contains some controversial opinions but is not meant to offend. These are simply my thoughts and ideas. Feel free to share your own, and all constructive criticism is welcome as always; but please no unsupported arguments or religious debates. Thanks.

A long time coming, Everyday Public Relations is making some changes. While still focused primarily on PR in our everyday lives, you may begin to notice that more and more posts have a conservation angle to them. You'll see ideas and tips for those who practice "green" PR as well as helpful social media hints for those in the conservation world.

To better explain this change let me start by telling you that I have these two great passions in life. (I actually have more, but only two relate to my career directly.) I love PR & Communications and I love conservation work. I have been lucky so far in that I get to combine the two on a regular basis. Working for a conservation organization as a public affairs officer has really been the best job I've ever had.

I do not however come into the world of conservation as a blind idealist or a hopeless treehugger. My viewpoints on the subject may seem a little extreme, and are hard to define, but I will try, in an effort to help my readers understand the nature of some of my posts.

Here goes: The planet Earth is the greatest evolutionary miracle that man has ever known. "What about people?" you cry. We (humans) are but one species, a blink of an eye on a planet that has seen more change, more wonder than any other that we currently know about. Throughout the studies done to explore space, our final frontier, it has been determined that our home planet is the only one of its kind - and is that way because everything came together so perfectly, at just the right time. Practically the definition of a miracle.

Now whether you attribute this miracle to God, the Big Bang or some other theory is your opinion and not something I care to debate. I do not judge and do not care for those who do.

Humans will not be around forever. Sad, I suppose but true. Eventually the Earth will die, as everything that exists and has ever exists does. It is an unavoidable truth-the planet's lifespan will one day conclude.

Now that we are all depressed thinking about the end of the world let me say this. The timing of that inevitable event depends largely on our treatment of this blue and green world we call home. This is what I want to change.

I love this planet, down to its smallest bugs. I'm fascinated by life. To that end I want to share the wonder I experience on a daily basis with as many people and future generations as I can. I want my kids, grandkids, great-grandkids and so forth to know the simple joy of a summer night listening to a chorus of frogs; the majestic imposing beauty of the Rocky Mountains; the frozen seemingly endless oceans of the south pole with so much life teeming underneath the ice; the intracacies of a mountain bog's eco-system and the awe of a fire rushing across a prairie-renewing life from its ashy wake. I could go on, but I think you get the point.

There is not a ton of money in conservation work or what has been dubbed "green pr" by some. Often you work long hours for little pay, much of your efforts being difficult and thankless. If you don't love it, or have some greater calling, you burn out fast. It is demanding and despite the growing green movement, often your audience is stubborn, set in their ways. money driven or simply indifferent, which is the worst of all.

So...that being said, and I know I've gone on a good while now, my blog is changing, I think for the better. I want to really reach out to those who are using their PR and communications skills for more than just to make a profit. If I can help those working for a better world via PR and social media then I have been successful. There will still be solid tips on using public relations, and social media in the new world of work, there will simply be the added component of using what I know to help others help the planet...for as long as it remains our home.

Hope you stick around and join the conservation. I look forward to your comments.

The New and Improved Brazen Careerist!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristina Summers) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:40:00 +0000

A couple years ago I received an email from a person I'd never heard of who asked me to be a part of a site with a concept that was totally foreign to me. That person was Ryan Paugh and the site, Brazen Careerist. He told me that as an important part of the gen-y blogging community, I would make an excellent addition to the team of bloggers he was putting together for a new kind of online social community.

My only experience with the whole gen-y movement up to that point was that I had read Penelope Trunk's (co-founder of Brazen) book, "The Brazen Careerist" and had listed it on my fledgling blog (still a class assignment at the time) as one of the best resources for new bloggers and newbies to the career world in general. I received a nice response from her and thought I'd hit the big time, getting a response from a real live author!

I agreed to be a part of this new venture and have never regretted it. When the site launched I was proud to be on those early email blasts full of the most interesting posts. I made contacts and considered myself among elite company as I came to know and respect many of the contributors through their blogs.

So much has changed since that day. My blog grows all the time, and I have become a person who is proud to be referred to as a blogger. As Brazen has grown as well I now consider it a challenge to remain at the top of my game, to get a mention in that weekly email. Both my writing quality and my self-confidence have also grown.

None of that would be possible without Brazen Careerist and their online network of wonderful bloggers. Because of the exposure I have received through the syndication of my blog, I have developed a professional reputation as a blogger and social media consultant. I have been asked to speak at conferences, and had my blog picked up by more than a dozen different web sites. Pretty cool.

Now, Brazen is changing, for the better. Tomorrow Brazen Careerist will launch with a whole new look and feel but will continue the excellent service known well by all who have used the site for networking, career advice or simply putting forth an opinion.

Make sure to check out the changes! I know I will!

The Amazing Five Minute Blog Review

noreply@blogger.com (Kristina Summers) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Not long ago I came across a blog with one of those titles that just makes you smile. Intrigued I continued reading and then came back the next day...and then the next day, and then the next. What I quickly realized was that I had once again found a blog that compelled me to keep coming back, the true sign of success that all of us bloggers strive for.

After following Life Without Pants for a while I had the opportunity to network a little with Matt Cheuvront, (@mattchevy) the man behind LWP, (I assume he is normally fully clothed however if his profile picture is accurate.) Turns out he has a lot of good advice about blogging, web site marketing, design and being young and in business for yourself in general.

I have been blogging for a while, nearly three years, but although I have been featured on various web sites and received numerous compliments about both my writing style and my niche (using social media for wildlife conservation) the followers just were not there. I didn't want to stop blogging so I knew I needed a little help.

Naturally I looked to On Simplicitybloggers I respect, people who have a proven track record and sucessful blogs: Milena at Quiet the Thunder, Tiffany at PersonalPR, and Holly at WorkLoveLife . And since I am naming awesome bloggers who have willingly answered questions and provided advice I can't forget Dorie at Dorie Morgan's Rising Up , Karen at TeachingPR and of course Matt at Life Without Pants.

Matt offers a very helpful service called the "Amazing 5 Minute Blog Review". I know good stuff when I see it and I figured that if anyone could help me do what I do, but better, he would be able to, so I signed up.

Check out his review here, and then check back soon to see how I am incorporating his advice. Big changes are coming and I am excited!

Follow my progress as Everyday Public Relations gets a make-over: on Twitter @kristinasummer or see my Facebook fan page Thursday Green .

The Learning Process

noreply@blogger.com (Kristina Summers) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:00:00 +0000

A few days ago @mattchevy completed an awesome review of my blog. I loved his advice and as I mentioned in the last post, you will begin to notice a few changes around here. In case you missed the video, you can check it out here.

Here is a brief summary of what I took from his review:

MOVE TO WORDPRESS - this was his number one bit of advice, and one I am keen on following...soon. On that note, Everyday Public Relations will be moving on October 1st so make sure you check back soon. The URL will NOT change, but the look and feel will be different. so please be free to share your feedback.
Make sure your traffic is all going to the same place. When I merge both EPR blogs this problem hopefully will solve itself.
JUST SAY NO - to Google ads.They clutter up your blog and provide such a tiny bit of revenue (none in my case) that they are really unnecessary.
JUST SAY YES - to affiliate advertisers that promote and complement your niche. I happen to promote Green PR and sustainable development so ads by We Add Up are relevant and fit in nicely.
Be Consistent with posts. - This has been the hardest thing for me since I have such a busy schedule. What I love about Wordpress is that I can write several posts at once and then schedule them for later.
Make New Friends - I have been on Twitter for a while, but have not taken advantage of all the tools that are available that can help my network and blog grow. By completing a search for a few key terms within my niche I can develop new relationships with others who would gladly support my efforts.

Hope these tips will help you the way they helped me. For more information, or to get your own blog review, check out The Amazing Five Minute Blog Review or swing by Life Without Pants to see what other things @mattchevy is up too.

Tailgate Trash Should Ashame UGA Fans

noreply@blogger.com (Kristina Summers) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:18:00 +0000

In recent months with the addition of the new TATE center and the increase in recycling programs on campus, The University of Georgia has been proudly promoting their efforts at "greening" up the well known southern party school. This weeks press however completely wipes away any good they may have come of those efforts unfortunately.

As an avid supporter of the BullDawg nation at the University of Georgia it pains me to see my beautiful campus trashed by unthinking and apparently uncaring tail-gating fans. I was unable to attend the home opener against South Carolina, so I was shocked to see the photos on the front cover of the Red & Black when I got back to campus this week. Is there ever a better time to say WTF!!!! 70 TONS of trash was removed!

Not only do fans trash the campus, the University then spends around $44,000 for EVERY home game to clean up afterward. Ridiculous. With every state-run institution suffering mightily from slashed budgets it is inconceviable that this kind of money should be spent because football fans can't clean up after themselves.

Now that the story has been picked up and displayed prominently on the front page of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, maybe UGA fans will put a little more thought into how hard they party, and what kind of legacy they want to leave behind.

The University was even chided by popular Athens publication Flagpole about their trashy habits saying "it's too bad the UGA Athletic Association has had to be shamed into providing recycling opportunities by the student volunteers who started the Gameday Recycling program on fall Saturdays, but hey: whatever works." Ben Emanuel, pg. 5 - in regards to efforts by the UGA Ecology Club.

Want to keep giving UGA some bad press? Keep on throwing your trash on the ground. If not then remember this basic axiom - your mama don't live here, clean up after yourself!

Photo Credit: Tom Ritch, AJC

Everyday Public Relations Has Moved!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristina Summers) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:01:00 +0000

Don't get left behind. Everyday Public Relations has moved to Wordpress. Check out the new digs at www.everydaypublicrelations.org !

We have moved!!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristina Summers) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:57:00 +0000

In recent months I have noticed that there have been an influx of comments on older posts, so I just wanted to remind all my loyal readers that Everyday Public Relations has moved. Please visit http://everydaypublicrelations.org and re-subscribe if you would still like to receive these wonderful updates about PR from the green side of life. As of May 2010, this site will no longer exist so make sure you don't get left behind!!

As always, thanks for reading!!